2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo Unveiled

A niche offering without the SUV stance

The Bavarians just revealed the new 6 Series Gran Turismo, a four-door liftback that combines
“the long-distance comfort of a luxury sedan with alluring coupe style,” according to BMW. As an evolution of the outgoing 5 Series Gran Turismo, the 6 Series GT is aimed at competitors like the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Audi A7.

Outside, the new 6 Series GT is longer and lower than before, while inside you’ll find an ultra-plush cabin, premium materials, and a slick layout. Three engines will be available at launch, with RWD as standard and AWD offered on select models. An eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission comes as standard. Power options include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 258 horses and 295 pound-feet of torque, good enough to hit 62 mph in 6.3 seconds. There will also be a 3.0-liter six-cylinder creating 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, which reduces the sprint to 62 mph to 5.4 seconds. Finally, a 3.0-liter six-cylinder oil burner will also make the options list, offering up 265 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque, good enough for a 6-second run to 62 mph. Top speed for all variants is governed at 155 mph. Pricing is set at around $70,000, with a market launch slated for November of this year and a public debut this September at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. We’ll have a full review posted soon, but in the meantime, read on for the full press release and a few more nitty gritty details.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe.

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A Few More Details

Outside, the 6 Series GT isn’t the most elegant Bimmer we’ve ever seen, but at least the performance specs are headed in the right direction. Get it in the right configuration, and it’s much as 0.7 seconds quicker to 62 mph than the outgoing 630i Gran Turismo equivalent, with further improvements to fuel consumption as well. Thanks to active air flaps and that sloping roofline, the 6 Series GT slips through the atmosphere with a low Cd of just 0.25.

It’s also lighter than before, cutting as much as 150 kg (331 pounds) over its predecessor thanks to a lighter body. That said, the 6 Series GT is still a rather heavy automobile, but should be somewhat interesting in the corners thanks to a standard air suspension system for the rear axle. The model is also optionally available with an adaptive set-up if desired.

Per usual, the Bimmer is equipped with lots of onboard tech, such as the latest iDrive system, Touch Controller, and gesture control. It’s also got safety stuff like lane-keep assist, steering and lane control assist, cross traffic warning, and evasion aid. Adaptive headlights in the nose are equipped with LED lighting elements.

What do you think? Do you like it, or do you think this unique body style should have ended with the 5 Series Gran Turismo? Let us know in the comments.

Note: all images courtesy of BMW.

BMW is presenting an extensively updated successor to one of the most creative vehicle concepts of recent years. The new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo blends the long-distance comfort of a luxury sedan with alluring coupe style.

The impressive functionality offered by this body format and the high standards of driving comfort and spaciousness that provide the ideal setting for a relaxing journey are among the features that defined the character of the new car’s predecessor – the founder of this vehicle genre. These strengths have now been further honed in the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo, whose systematic evolution from the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is particularly evident in the new model’s sporting elegance, highly advanced equipment features, innovative control and assistance systems, and a leap forward in dynamism and efficiency.

“The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo offers a unique combination of luxurious interior comfort and flexible practicality, packaged within a truly elegant design. Coupled with the sporty, dynamic driving characteristics our customers enjoy, this car is an outstanding vehicle which further enhances the upper end of our BMW model line-up,” comments Dr Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Brand BMW.

The new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo will make its public debut at Frankfurt’s International Motor Show (IAA) in September 2017. The market launch will then get underway in November 2017, when there will initially be a choice of three engines from the BMW Group’s latest generation of power units. The BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system will also be available for two model variants from launch.

Lighter, sportier, more comfortable and more efficient.
A combination of intelligent lightweight engineering and increased use of aluminium and high-strength steel grades for body and chassis components has shaved an average of around 150 kilograms off the weight of the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo compared to the outgoing model. Together with the considerable improvement in the car’s aerodynamic properties, the increase in power and the superior efficiency of the new engines, this endows the car with sportier performance at the same time as optimising fuel economy. Depending on the engine variant, the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) is completed up to 0.7 seconds quicker (BMW 630i Gran Turismo) than in the equivalent predecessor model, while fuel consumption and emissions figures in the NEDC test cycle are as much as 15 per cent lower (BMW 640i Gran Turismo, BMW 630d Gran Turismo). Handling dynamics and driving comfort in the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo both reap the benefits of the extensive improvements made to chassis technology. Self-levelling air suspension comes as standard at the rear axle, while ride comfort especially can be further enhanced by opting for the Adaptive suspension (featuring front and rear air suspension plus Dynamic Damper Control). The Executive Drive option, which is offered in combination with the Integral Active Steering system and also includes active roll stabilisation, gives the vehicle a sportier edge. The two-axle air suspension allows the vehicle’s ride height to be adjusted manually, meaning that ground clearance can be increased by 20 millimetres at the touch of a button to negotiate dirt tracks or steep ramps, for example. The vehicle can also be lowered by 10 millimetres – either manually by again pushing a button, or automatically when SPORT mode is engaged via the Driving Experience Control switch or the car’s speed exceeds 120 km/h (75 mph). All optional suspension systems are now available in conjunction with BMW xDrive.

Design: dynamic proportions and elegant, flowing lines.
An exterior length of 5,091 millimetres (an increase of 87 millimetres on its predecessor), an unchanged width of 1,902 millimetres and a reduction in height of 21 millimetres (to 1,538 millimetres) give the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo dynamically stretched proportions. The front end has a distinctive, powerful appearance, with the lenses of the standard LED headlights extending all the way to the large BMW kidney grille. BMW’s signature sporting elegance comes to the fore particularly prominently when the car is viewed in profile, thanks to familiar features such as the long bonnet, set-back positioning of the cabin, a wheelbase of 3,070 millimetres, doors with frameless windows, and an elongated window outline stretching deep into the rear end. The roofline sweeps down, coupe-style, to merge into a tail section that is now 64 millimetres lower in height. Rear lights with three-dimensional styling add an eye-catching touch.

The low-slung silhouette also has a beneficial effect on the car’s aerodynamic properties, combining with active air flap control and other measures including Air Curtains, Air Breathers and an automatically extending rear spoiler to lower the drag coefficient (Cd) from the predecessor’s figure of 0.29 to as little as 0.25.

Ideal blend of driving pleasure, long-distance comfort and functionality.
The interior has been designed to provide a driver-focused cockpit and an extremely spacious passenger compartment. The raised seating position optimises the driver’s all-round view and, together with the faultlessly ergonomic arrangement of the controls, helps to create an imperious sense of driving pleasure. The cabin’s lines, materials and precision workmanship imbue it with a highly sophisticated, premium feel. The rear compartment of the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo comprises three full-size seats offering maximised legroom. Exhaustive optimisation of the cabin’s packaging sees the new model’s far flatter roofline still translating into extra headroom, while the restyled rear seat unit and improved soundproofing make it even more comfortable to travel in. The electrically-adjustable comfort seats optionally available for the rear allow the backrest angle to be altered at the push of a button.

The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo features a one-piece tailgate that opens and closes electrically as standard. The boot capacity of 610 litres is 110 litres larger than the predecessor model’s. The boot sill has been lowered by more than five centimetres and is now flush with the boot floor. The 40 : 20 : 40 split backrest can be released remotely and folded flat electrically via a button in the boot. All of which means that maximum load space has increased to 1,800 litres – up 100 litres on the outgoing model. The two-piece luggage compartment cover has a rigid structure and can be stowed away in a compartment underneath the boot floor.

New generation of engines, eight-speed Steptronic transmission as standard, BMW xDrive as an option.
The line-up of engines available for the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo feature cutting-edge TwinPower Turbo technology and team up with the eight-speed Steptronic transmission as standard. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit in the new BMW 630i Gran Turismo delivers a maximum output of 190 kW/258 hp and peak torque of 400 Nm (295 lb-ft). It propels the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.3 seconds and posts combined fuel consumption of 6.6–6.2 litres per 100 kilometres (42.8–45.6 mpg imp)* and CO2 emissions of 152–142 grams per kilometre*.

Generating an output of 250 kW/340 hp and maximum torque of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft), the 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line petrol engine enables the new BMW 640i Gran Turismo to accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) from rest in 5.4 seconds, while the new BMW 640i xDrive Gran Turismo is a tick faster at 5.3 seconds. The combined fuel consumption of the two models comes in at 7.4–7.0 litres per 100 kilometres (38.2–40.4 mpg imp) and 8.2–7.7 litres per 100 kilometres (34.5–36.7 mpg imp)* respectively, which equates to CO2 figures of between 169 / 159 grams and 187 / 177 grams per kilometre*.

Uniquely versatile control system.
The new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo is equipped with a display and control system offering unrivalled versatility for operating vehicle, navigation, communication and infotainment functions. At the heart of it all is the iDrive system, complete with the Touch Controller on the centre console and the Control Display, now in the form of a freestanding touchscreen. The high-resolution display has a screen diagonal of 10.25 inches, while its tile-style menu layout with animated graphics in live mode facilitates intuitive operation. The new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo also offers the convenience of both enhanced voice control and BMW gesture control. And customers can specify the new-generation BMW Head-Up Display, too, whose projection area is 70 per cent larger than before.

Assistance systems that smooth the way to automated driving.
The driver assistance systems fitted in the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo make use of the standard stereo camera as well as optional radar and ultrasonic sensors to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings. The Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Collision Mitigation comes as standard, while the list of options includes the new, improved version of Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function operational at speeds between 0 and 210 km/h (130 mph). The Steering and lane control assistant (active in the same speed range) represents another step along the road to automated driving. It uses road markings and vehicles driving ahead for orientation and helps the driver to keep the vehicle in the detected lane. The Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning systems, Side Collision Warning and the evasion aid likewise enhance convenience and safety by coming to the driver’s assistance with corrective steering inputs. The Crossing traffic warning, Priority warning, Crossroads warning and Wrong-way warning systems similarly do their bit to avoid potentially hazardous situations. And the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo can also be ordered with the Remote Control Parking feature.

BMW Connected: personal mobility assistant, new services.

BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo owners can also enjoy the benefits of BMW Connected, intelligent connectivity enabling this digital personal mobility assistant to help drivers reach their destination easily and with minimal stress – and not only when they are in their car. To this end, calendar entries from a smartphone can be used for route planning, for instance, the ideal departure time can be calculated on the basis of real-time traffic data and the navigation destination can be transferred to the owner’s car. Once inside, drivers are able to manage calendar, e-mail and contact data via the Microsoft Exchange function. Their smartphone is integrated wirelessly via Bluetooth and inductive charging is also possible.

Real Time Traffic Information indicates the presence of tailbacks and slow-moving traffic, On-Street Parking Information helps to find available parking spots at the side of the road, and the Remote 3D View function allows drivers to view live images of their car and its immediate vicinity on their smartphone.